2011-12 Online Catalogue

Social Work (Master of Social Work)

Overview

The Master of Social Work program at the University of Vermont prepares students for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in the post-modern environment. Our curriculum emphasizes strengths-oriented, relational practice guided by principles of social justice and human rights and a conceptual framework of critical social construction. The Master of Social Work Program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The professional foundation curriculum is designed to assist students to explore and develop generalist knowledge, values, and skills for professional practice. Students take thirty credits of foundation course work, including one elective. The curriculum is comprised of coursework in five areas: Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE), Social Welfare Policy, Social Work Practice, Field Practica, and Research.

The concentration year curriculum is designed to extend and integrate student knowledge, values, and skills for advanced practice in a single concentration, Transformative Social Work. This is accomplished through focused study in a student-generated, individualized area of interest. All core curriculum courses in the concentration year are considered advanced practice courses in Transformative Social Work, in that all emphasize the application of complex social ideas and the production of transformative roles and methods. Students select four focus courses to direct their studies toward a particular population or field of social work practice. In addition, the concentration curriculum consists of two advanced practice courses, a field practicum, an advanced research course, and a "capstone course" aimed at integrating the student's application of transformative social work in the area of interest. To fulfill the UVM Graduate College comprehensive examination requirement, concentration year students complete a final project which is embedded in the capstone course. The project extends learning across the concentration curriculum and builds upon inquiry begun in the Advanced Research course. The project is the culmination of the student’s studies in the concentration year and provides integration and closure to the student's educational experience.

The Department of Social Work offers a full time and part time course of study towards the MSW degree. An Advanced Standing option is also available for eligible students who have completed an undergraduate degree in social work from a bachelor's program accredited by CSWE within 7 years of admission.

To request a program bulletin or additional information, please contact the Department of Social Work at 802-656-8800 or visit the program's Master's Degree in Social Work home page.

Specific Requirements

General Requirements for Admission:

A baccalaureate degree completed in good standing from an accredited college or university.

No minimum grade point average (GPA) is required; however, the applicant must show evidence of academic ability to undertake graduate study in social work. The applicant's GPA is one indicator of performance and will be considered in the review process.

Evidence of a strong liberal arts background, with a minimum of eighteen credits in general liberal arts course work that supports graduate education in social work.

An approved course in statistical methods must have been completed within the past 10 years and with a grade of C- or higher, or such course must be completed prior to enrollment.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores (no minimum score is required) from tests taken within five years of the date of application.

Prior work or volunteer experience in human services is preferred.

International students must submit TOEFL scores of 550 (paper test), 213 (computer-based test), or 80 (internet-based test) or higher, from tests taken within two years of the date of application.

Requirements for Advanced Standing:

A BSW degree earned from a Bachelor’s in Social Work Program accredited by CSWE (Council on Social Work Education) within 7 years of admission to the MSW program.

Prior academic performance that supports graduate study in social work.

Satisfactory undergraduate social work field practicum evaluations.

How to apply

The following materials are required for application:

Completed application form (online).

Written Statement of Purpose that describes the applicant's preparation and goals for pursuing graduate study in Social Work (submit online).

Scores from appropriate GRE tests (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic Writing) taken within 5 years of the date of application.

Official transcripts from each college or university attended.

Resume of work and professional experience.

Three (3) letters of recommendation and completed recommender forms (Recommendations from at least one academic source and one from human service related employment are strongly encouraged).

Non-refundable application fee of $40.00 for online application.

Minimum Degree Requirements for the Master of Social Work

The Master of Social Work degree requires 60 credits of graduate study, unless students are admitted with Advanced Standing status. Advanced Standing status is granted solely to students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree in a program accredited, or acknowledged as being equivalent to a Bachelor’s in Social Work, by the Council on Social Work Education, and allows for a shorter course of study at 39 credits. Both regular track and advanced standing students must complete all required and elective credits in social work courses.

The policies and standards for maintaining program accreditation do not permit the granting of academic credit toward graduation for life experience.